I like Buffy, both the show and the character. I have very, very positive thoughts about it, and really don't have an offhand criticism. My love for her and it (the show) is probably as irrational as yours is, and I make as few apologies. Now, Angel? (both show and character) Don't even get me started. Perfection, man. Perfection. Got anything else to say? I CAN'T HEAR YOU! :-P
In lurking around the edges of Buffy fandom, I found immediately that not everyone else shares my opinion on this. Point of fact, there are these people who HATE Buffy and who HATE Angel (and who even more irrationally hate Buffy and Angel together, but I won't go into that :-P) My response to that has been to choose to ignore most meta discussions, except for those I choose to conduct from time to time on my own journal...because I just don't want to hear it. I respect and value the opinions of those who dislike the show. They can post about them wherever they want, including the front page of the New York Times, if they can get it to run. I just won't be reading it, because I don't want anything to tarnish my shiny little Mary Sunshine view of these shows. They are the most beautiful thing since sliced bread, and I just don't even want to know anything that can destroy that. Rational? Who cares whether it is or not :-P
So, yeah, I'm with you through all that. The only thing where I disagree slightly is this:
Find a better show that had a seven year run. Find it. Want to argue that it went downhill after Season 3? Fine. Find a better show that had a seven year run. Find better arcs, better continuity of characters, better dialogue and emotional depth. Find it.
I have little to no experience with TV outside of BtVS/AtS/QAF, so I don't know whether or not there is something "better" out there. I tend to think not, because I love these characters so very much and I don't think that most mainstream TV is going to sell me quite this well. BUT, I don't think that means that dissatisfied fans/former fans can't express their opinions to the contrary. That is, the very fact that "nothing better" exists doesn't mean that the current thing is perfect (although I believe it is, dammit!) or that there aren't flaws to point out legitimately. I know what it's like to care about a show so intensely it hurts - and then to feel that it took a dramatic turn downwards and is now going down the tubes. Three letters: Q A F. And when you feel like that, you want to vent, and you want to express that opinion - not because you don't care about the show and want to proclaim to the world that it sucks, but because you DO. And I *get* where people who feel that way about Buffy (no, I refuse to even acknowledge that people can feel this way about Angel BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR THEM LA LA LA :-P) are coming from. I disagree with them strongly, and try to avoid reading their thoughts, but I get that.
Just rambling around to say that I mostly agree with you, but also understand people who need to vent about things, and why they need to do that. I will shut up now :)
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-03-22 10:42 pm (UTC)In lurking around the edges of Buffy fandom, I found immediately that not everyone else shares my opinion on this. Point of fact, there are these people who HATE Buffy and who HATE Angel (and who even more irrationally hate Buffy and Angel together, but I won't go into that :-P) My response to that has been to choose to ignore most meta discussions, except for those I choose to conduct from time to time on my own journal...because I just don't want to hear it. I respect and value the opinions of those who dislike the show. They can post about them wherever they want, including the front page of the New York Times, if they can get it to run. I just won't be reading it, because I don't want anything to tarnish my shiny little Mary Sunshine view of these shows. They are the most beautiful thing since sliced bread, and I just don't even want to know anything that can destroy that. Rational? Who cares whether it is or not :-P
So, yeah, I'm with you through all that. The only thing where I disagree slightly is this:
Find a better show that had a seven year run. Find it. Want to argue that it went downhill after Season 3? Fine. Find a better show that had a seven year run. Find better arcs, better continuity of characters, better dialogue and emotional depth. Find it.
I have little to no experience with TV outside of BtVS/AtS/QAF, so I don't know whether or not there is something "better" out there. I tend to think not, because I love these characters so very much and I don't think that most mainstream TV is going to sell me quite this well. BUT, I don't think that means that dissatisfied fans/former fans can't express their opinions to the contrary. That is, the very fact that "nothing better" exists doesn't mean that the current thing is perfect (although I believe it is, dammit!) or that there aren't flaws to point out legitimately. I know what it's like to care about a show so intensely it hurts - and then to feel that it took a dramatic turn downwards and is now going down the tubes. Three letters: Q A F. And when you feel like that, you want to vent, and you want to express that opinion - not because you don't care about the show and want to proclaim to the world that it sucks, but because you DO. And I *get* where people who feel that way about Buffy (no, I refuse to even acknowledge that people can feel this way about Angel BECAUSE I CAN'T HEAR THEM LA LA LA :-P) are coming from. I disagree with them strongly, and try to avoid reading their thoughts, but I get that.
Just rambling around to say that I mostly agree with you, but also understand people who need to vent about things, and why they need to do that. I will shut up now :)